Method for producing inert gases



Jan. 6, 1953. H. v. wlLLlAMs'QN METHOD FOR PRoDucING INERT GASES 5 Sheets-Suee lFiled Nov. 18I 1948 Il!!! lllli lllwlllfll dlnlvlhivlblldfili Jan. 6, 1953 H. v. WILLIAMSON 2,624,711

METHOD FOR PRODUCING INERT GASES Filed Nov. 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 SMQ/Wto@ Jan. 6; 1953 H. v. WILLIAMSON METHOD Foa PRODUCI'NG INERT GA-s's 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 18, 1948 Wm mm 3.0 w #l m w.

Jan: 6,- 1953 H. v. WILLIAMSON 2,624,711

METHOD FOR PRODUCING INE'RT GASES Filed Nov. 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 6, 1953 H. v. WILLIAMSON 2,624,711

METHOD FOR PRODUCING INERT GASES Filed Nov. 1S, 1948 5 sheets-Sheet 5 IP* f Patented Jan. 6, 1953 METHOD FOR PRODUCING INERT GASES Hilding V. Williamson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cardcx Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 18, 1948, Serial No. 60,755

8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in a method for producing a homogeneous mixture of inert gases, and more particularly to a method for burning a carbonaceous material in the presence of atmospheric gases to form a homogeneous mixture of gaseous products of combustion from which free oxygen and carbon monoxide have been substantially eliminated.

There is in modern industry, an ever increasing demand for a practical, inexpensive method for supplying a. mixture of inert gases for use in water purification systems, inerting spaces, food preservation and other similar applications. For use in these elds, it is essential that such a mixture of gases be relatively free from oxygen, carbon monoxide, water vapor and other like impurities. For many purposes, it is essential that the carbon dioxide percentage of the gaseous mixture be maintained at a uniform, high level throughout any variations in the output of the device. And iinally, the maximum output of the method should be as high as possible in accordance with the size and portability of the vapparatus by which it is carried out.

It is, then, the primary object of this invention to provide a method for combining the free oxygen of atmospheric air with carbon to form a homogeneous mixture of inert gases containing a relatively high percentage of carbon dioxide with a minimum of carbon monoxide and residual free oxygen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for producing an inert gas mixture by which controlled amounts of air and gaseous products of combustion are circulated through a bed of solid carbonaceous material to rapidly and emciently oxidize the carbonaceous material so that the gaseous products of combustion are a homogeneous mixture of inert gases in a relatively high percentage of carbon dioxide with a minimum of active gas impurities.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a homogeneous mixture of inert gases containing a relatively high percentage of carbon dioxide and a minimum of active gas impurities by controlling the temperature and oxygen content of a gaseous mixture which is passed through a bed of solid carbonaceous material to cause the oxygen in the mixture to combine with the carbon in the material to form carbon dioxide.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for producing an inert gas mixture by passing a mixture of gases containing a controlled amount of oxygen and at a controlled temperature through a bed of carbonaceous material whereby the oxygen is combined with carbon to form carbon dioxide at a controlled reaction temperature to cause the mixture of inert gases to contain a relatively high percentage of carbon dioxide and a minimum of active gas impurities.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a mixture of inert gases having a relatively high carbon dioxide content and a minimum of active gas impurities by passing a mixture of gases having a free oxygen content of approximately two to three per cent and at a temperature of 1000 F. to 1200 F. through a bed of carbonaceous material to cause the oxygen to combine with the carbon to form carbon dioxide at a reaction temperature of 1400 F. to 1600o F. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, v

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an inert gas producing unit illustrating an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the unit illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit employed as a part of the unit illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the pneumatic system that is controlled by the electric circuit illustrated in Fig. 6,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View of a modified form of inert gas producing unit to that illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8,

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line lD--I of Fig. 8,

Figure l1 is a detail perspective View of the upper portion of the Venturi tube illustrated in Fig. 8, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating a modification in the cooling coils of the units shown in Figs. 1 and In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, are shown the preferred embodiments of this invention, and referring rst to Fig. l, the numeral |5 designates a housing having a side wall I6 and a cover plate |1 which is connected to the side wall by the bolts I8 passing through the outer margin of the cover plate and a flange |9 on the upper margin of the side wall. A sealing member is positioned between the cover plate |1 and the flange I9 to prevent pressure leakage at the connection therebetween.

The lower end portion of the side wall i6 is provided with a flanged ash removal opening 2| having a seating surface 22. A quick opening door 23, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is provided for the opening 2| and has a sealing member 24 for engagement with the seating surface 22. The transverse hinge members are provided with a freely rotatable hand-wheel 2S having a threaded stem 21 for engagement with the internally threaded collar 28 which is connected to the outer surface of the door. The free end portions of the transverse hinge members 25 are pivotaliy connected to a latch bar 29 having a hooked outer end portion 38 which is engageable with the latch plate 3| when the door 23 lies across the opening 2| is illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the hooked end 3U of the latch bar is engaging the latch plate 3|, the hand-wheel 28 may be rotated to cause relative axial movement between the stem 21 and the collar 28 whereby the sealing member 24 is forced into pressure sustaining engagement with the seating surface 22 and the hook 30 and latch plate 3| are maintained in their engaged position by the resulting forces therebetween.

A similarly constructed quick opening door 32 is located on the cover plate I1 to provide a l pressure sustaining closure for the fuel supply opening 33 of the latter. Therefore, like reference numerals are employed to designate the corresponding parts of each door.

The lower portion of the side wall IG and the bottom plate 34 of the housing are provided with an encased internal layer of suitable heat insulating material 35. The upper annual surface 36 of the casing of the insulating material inside the side wall I6 is sloped downwardly and inwardly relative to the side wall.

A supporting ring 31 extends circumferentially around the inner surface of the casing for the side wall insulating material 35, and is suitably connected thereto. The perforated grate bars 38 are pivotally connected to the supporting ring 31 by the pins 38a and extend downwardly and inwardly therefrom in spaced radial relationship to be pivotally connected by the pins 3827 at their inner, lower end portions of the shaker ring 39. A shaker bar 40 is rigidly connected to the shaker ring 39 and extends outwardly therefrom to pass through the slot 4| in the crank arm 42. The shaft 43 of the crank arm passes through the side wall |6 and the encased insulating material 35 in a manner to prevent escape of gases, and is rigidly connected to the handle 44 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

When the handle 44 is actuated, the crank arm 42 operates to oscillate the shaker bar 40 and the shaker ring 39. This movement of the shaker ring 39 is imparted to the grate bars 38 to cause their relative movement to agitate the ash resting thereon.

A Calrod type electrical heating element 45 is positioned beneath the medial portion of the grate bars 38 and the electrical terminals thereof are passed through the encased insulating material 35 and the side wall I6 of the housing Where they are sealed to prevent escape of gases from the housing.

A cylindrical stack 46 is positioned coaxially of the housing |5 in the upper portion thereof, and is provided with a sealed cover 4'. which is positioned slightly above the cover plate |1. A truncated conical member 48 is connected to the lower edge of the stack 4S and extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom to terminate in spaced relation to the lower margin of the aforesaid. annular surface 35 thereby forming a hopper chamber 49 bounded by the side wall |5, the cover plate l1, the stack 46. the conical member 48, and the annular surface 33. The opening 33 provides an inlet to the chamber 49, and the space between the conical member 48 and the annular surface 35 provides an annular discharge opening above the outer portion of the grate bars 38.

The space below the stack 46 and the conical member 48 and above the grate bars 38 serves as a combustion chamber, receiving its fuel supply from the hopper chamber 49 through the discharge opening thereof.

The stack 45 is provided with a discharge opening 46a located between its cover 41 and the cover plate of the housing for withdrawing gaseous products of combustion from the housing.

A cylindrical tube 5U is rigidly connected to the inner surface of the stack cover 41 by the flanged ring 5| to form a cooling chamber 5|a between the cap 52 for the tube 5B and the cover 41. The tube 5E] extends downwardly through the stack 4B to a point slightly below the lower margin of the latter. This tube is provided with four openings 53 at equally spaced circumferential intervals around its lower end portion. The upper end portion of the tube 5U is provided with a similar series of four equally spaced openings 54 that are longitudinally alined with the lower openings 53, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

The cap 52 is provided with a central opening 55 surrounded by a cylindrical projection 56 which extends above the stack cover 41 to receive the air inlet pipe 51 through the packing gland 58. The air inlet pipe passes through the cap 52 and centrally of the tube 58 to terminate in a ow restricting nozzle 59 near the lower openings 53.

The upper end portion of the air inlet pipe 51 is connected to the compressed air supply pipe 30 through the swivel joint 6| and valve 62 controls the flow of compressed air through the pipe 51.

A plate 63 is welded or otherwise connected to the air inlet pipe 51 beneath and closely adjacent to the cap 52. An aspirator tube 84, having an internally anged upper end portion S5, is connected to the plate G3 by the bolts 66. The aspirator tube 34 is concentrically positioned within the tube 50, with a minimum clearance to allow relative rotation therebetween, and extends downwardly through the shaker ring 39 to the space below the grate bars 38. A series of four equally spaced openings S1 are located circumferentially at the medial portion of the aspirator tube 54 and a similar series of four openings 68 are located at the upper end portion of this tube. The upper openings 68 are displaced angularly 45 degrees with respect to the lower openings I61, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The location of the opening 61 and 68 in the aspirator tube 54 Aand the openings 53 and 54 in the tube are such that the aspirator tube may be rotated to radially aline the openings 61 and 53 'at which time the openings 68 are disalined radially with the upper openings 54. The openings $8 `and 54 may also be radially alined by rotation of the aspirator tube 64, but when so alined the openings B1 and 53 yare disalined radially.

It Will be seen that the above discussed openings in the tubes 50 and 64 are so larranged that the tubes cooperate by relative rotation to function as a selector valve for controlling the path of flow of the gases.

A Venturi type flow nozzle B9 is positioned within the lower portion of the aspirator tube 84 so that the flow restricting air nozzle 59 points into the converging inlet of the venturi, and the space between the venturi 69 and the aspirator tube 84 is iilled with a suitable heat insulating material 10.

Ash Aagitating fins 1| are connected to the outer surface of the lower end portion of the aspirator tube 64 and extend longitudinally thereof.

A double layer cooling coil '12 is positioned within the stack 48 outwardly of the tube 50. The upper end portion 13 of the outer layer of the coil is connected to the cooling chamber 5|a so that a continuous flow path for the water, or other cooling medium, is formed. This Iiow path includes the cooling chamber 5|a and cooling coil 12, having an inlet 'I4 into the cooling chiamber, and an outlet l5 at the upper end of the inner layer of the coil.

By referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 7, it will be seen that the air inlet pipe 5l is vertically supported for rotary movement by the ball type thrust bearing 1'6 resting on the support 'I1 and carrying the split clamp 'I8 which is rigidly connected to the pipe. An operating lever 19 is rigidly connected to the split clamp I8 and pivotally connected to the rod 80 of the double acting piston 3|. The piston 8| is movably mounted in the cylinder 82 which is pivotally mounted on the cover plate I1 and provided with pressure supply lines 83 and 84.

Referring new to Figs. 1, 6 and 7 for a detailed description of an automatic temperature control system for the unit, the temperature responsive control element 85, located in the space below the grate bars 38, is formed of an outer tubular member 818 and an internal rod 81 having a low thermal coeiiicient of expansion relative to the tube 86. yOne end portion of the tube 8G is positioned directly beneath the outlet of the venturi B1, and the inner rod 81 is fastened to the tube `at this end. 'Ihe other end of the tube 86 is projected through the side wall |6 in sealing engagement therewith, and the corresponding end portion of the rod 81 projects from the end of the tube. Expansion and contraction of the tube 88 will therefore cause the projecting end portion of the tube 8l to move inwardly and outwardly, respectively, relative to the side wall I9. This movement of the rod 81 serves to operate a switch 88 to open and close, respectively, the electrical circuit through the wires 89 and 90.

As i's illustrated in Fig. 6, the wire 89 is connected to one side of an electric supply source,

-no't shown, and the wire 90 is connected through Vpivotally connected to the valve operating lever 93 which is mounted for pivotal movement above the pin 94. A pair of valve operating rods 95 and 96 are slideably mounted in the valve body 97 in such a manner that the outer end,`portions of the rods may freely engage the operating lever 93 on opposite sides of the pin 94.

`The inner end portions of the rods 95 and 96 are adapted to freely engage the movable balls 08 located, respectively, within the chambers 99 and |80. Each of chambers 99 and |09 is provided with an inlet |0|, an outlet |02 and a vent |03. Movement of the valve operating rods 95 and 96 in their respective chambers moves one ball 08 to close the inlet |0| of one of the chambers yand simultaneously releases the ball 98 in the other chamber to permit pressure vair to now through its inlet |0|. Further, the vents |03 of the chambers are so positioned that movement of the balls 98 toward or away from the inlets |0| causes the vents to be closed and opened, respectively, as the inlets |0| are opened and closed. The outlets |02 remain open at all times, and are connected to the pressure supply lines 83 and 84 leading to the cylinder 82.

The inlet openings |0| of the chambers 99 and are connected by the pipe |0|a to a source of supply of compressed air, not shown, which may be the same source as that to which the compressed air supply pipe 60 is connected.

In operation, the weight of the solenoid armature 92, supplemented by a spring if necessary, forces the lever 93 into its depressed position when switch 88 is open and no current is flowing through the solenoid 9|. In this position the compressed air admitted to the chamber 99 is directed through its outlet |82 and the pressure supply line 83 to force the piston 8| to the opposite end of the cylinder 82, as viewed in Fig. 7. The air which is displaced from the cylinder 82 is exhausted through the pressure supply line 84 and the outlet |02 of the chamber |00 to be vented through the now open vent |03 in the chamber |08. The inlet |0| of the chamber |00 is closed to prevent escape of the compressed air through the open vent |03.

When the solenoid 9| is energized, as illustrated in Fig. '7, the lever 93 is raised by the solenoid armature 92. In its raised position, the lever S3 reverses the operating conditions of the chambers S9 and |00. Compressed air is admitted to the chamber |00 and passes through supply line 84 to enter the cylinder 82 to force the piston 8| to the opposite end thereof and to exhaust the air on the opposite side of the piston 80 through the line 83 and the vent |03 in the chamber 99.

Referring now to Figs. 1 through 7 for a description of the operation of the above described unit, the hopper chamber 49 is supplied with coke through the opening 33 until the coke passing through the bottom discharge opening onto the grates 38 has formed a bed B of suflicient depth to prevent further discharge. A reserve supply of coke, preferably, is maintained in the hopper chamber. The door 32 is then closed and, with the hooked end 30 of the latch bar 29 engaging the latch plate 3|, the hand-wheel 26 is rotated to force the sealing member 24 into sealing engagement with the seating surface 22. The door 23 is similarly closed and sealed to prevent escape of gases through the ash remova opening 2|.

The heating element 45 is energized for a sufcient length of time to raise the temperature of the coke bed B to approximately 1000 F. at

which point compressed air from a suitable supply source is admitted at a constant pressure through the valve 62 in the supply line 60 to the air inlet pipe 51. The heating element is then deenergized.

The compressed air entering the air inlet pipe 51 is directed downwardly from the ow restricting nozzle e as a high velocity jet, and enters therventuri GS. The velocity of the air discharged by the nozzle E9 is increased and its static pressure is decrease-:l so as to crea-te a pressure drop of from five to ten pounds per square inch in the passage of the air from the nozzle S9 through the throat of the venturi. This pressure drop creates an aspirator effect so that gases are drawn through either the openings ii? and 53, communicating with the combustion chamber, or through the openings 68 and 54, communicating with the upper portion ol the stack d, depending upon the relative positions of the tube 5i! and the aspirator tube S4 and the openings that are radially alined'. The gases passing through the alined openings are entrained in the air stream at a ratio oi' from six to ten volumes of entrained gases for each volume of air.

The air and entrained gases are thoroughly mixed during their passage through the venturi 8S, and are delivered to the space below the grate bars 3&1. From this space the air and gas mixture flows upwardly into the fuel bed B through the perorations in and the spaces between the grates 38. The oxygen content of the mixture of air and gases will vary from approximately three per cent, when the ratio of entrainecl gases to air is six to one, to approximately two per cent when the ratio is ten to one.

The temperature of the mixture depends primarily upon the temperature of the entrained gases, and is controlled by the temperature responsive control element 85 to within a range of 1G00" F. to 12th F. rhe mode of operation of the temperature control system is as follows:

When the temperature of the mixture of air and entrained gases drops to 1090o F., the gaseous mixture issuing from the venturi 69 and contacting the element 85 will cause the tube 8S to contract sufficiently to move the rod 8l' outwardly to close the switch 88. The circuit through the solenoid Sl is then closed by the switch 83 and energization of the solenoids causes operation of the valve 91' to bring about movement of the piston 8| to the left-hand end portion o" the cylinder 32, as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 2 illustrates that this movement of the piston 8|, and its attached piston rod 8G, will cause the operating lever '9 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, whereby the air inlet tube 5l' and its attached aspirator tube St will be rotated in the same direction. The length of the piston stroke is such that rotation or" the aspirator tube 64 is limited to the 45 degrees necessary to place the openings B1 in the aspirator tube in alinement with the openings 53 in the tube 55, and to disaline the openings. 5t and 58 at the upper end portions of the tubes 50 and 64.

The entrained gases are, therefore, drawn from the combustion chamber directly above the fuel bed B where their temperature is at or near the maximum. This results in an increase in the temperature of the mixture of air and entrained gases contacting the element 85 so that the tubular member S5 will expand to retract the rod 81 and open the switch S8 in the circuit through the solenoid SI.

As the solenoid 9| is deenergized, valve 91 is operated to cause the piston 8l and its piston rod to move to the right of Fig. 7, as herebefore discussed.

Movement of the piston rod 80 in this direction will pivot the operating lever 'I9 and rotate the attached air inlet pipe 51 in a clockwise direction to rotate the aspirator tube 64 to the position where the openings 54 and 68 are alined and the openings 53 and 61 disalined.

The entrained gases will then be drawn from the upper portion of the stack 46 after having passed in contact with the cooling coil 12. The entrained gases are, therefore, at a lower temperature than those gases directly above the fuel bed B, and the temperature of the mixture of air and entrained gases will accordingly be reduced.

To summarize the above description of the mode of operation, the mixture of air and entrained gases is delivered to the bottom of the fuel bed B at a temperature of 1000 F. to 1200 F. and with an oxygen content of from two to three per cent, where the oxygen supports combustion of the coke.

During the passage of the mixture through the coke bed B, most of the oxygen is combined with the carbon in the coke to form carbon dioxide Iand the temperature increases approximately 200 F.v for each one per cent of oxygen contained in the mixture. The temperature of the gaseous products of combustion leaving the top of the fuel bed B will, therefore, ordinarily range from 1400 F. to l600 F.

A portion of the gaseous products of combustion rising from the fuel bed B are then entrained and recycled with the incoming air to make the process continuous and complete. The recycled gases may contain a small amount of carbon monoxide due to incomplete combustion in the fuel bed B, but the temperature of the air and recycled gas mixture is such that substantially all of the carbon monoxide combines with oxygen in the air before reentering the fuel bed B.

The inert gas mixture, which is discharged from the unit through the discharge opening 46a in the Stack 46, consists primarily of inert atmospheric gases and from nineteen to twenty per cent carbon dioxide with less than two-tenths per cent free oxygen and less than five-tenths per cent carbon monoxide. Variations in the amount of constant pressure air supplied will not appreciably ailect the consistency of the discharged gases.

The maximum output is increased by operating the unit with internal pressure of up to twelve pounds per square inch, gage. As the internal pressure is increased, the velocity of the recycled gases and the air passing through the fuel bed B will be reduced to extend the length of time during which combustion may take place.

During operation of the unit, the grate handle 44 may be actuated to move the grate bars 38 whereby the ashes will lter through the bars and collect in the bottom of the housing l5. Operation of the grate bars 38 will also facilitate settling of the fuel bed B as combustion occurs to allow fuel to feed into the combustion chamber from the hopper chamber 49. The iins H on the aspirator tube 64 act to further agitate the fuel bed B when the aspirator tube is rotated to control the temperature of the mixture of air and entrained gases. The ashes collected in the bottom of the housing I6 are removed from the housing through the ash removal opening 2|.

Referring now to Figs. 8 through l1, wherein is 9 illustrated a modification of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the number designates a housing having a side wall |06 and an integral bottom plate |01. The upper end portion of the side wall |06 is anged outwardly to provide a seating surface |08 for the cover plate |09. The cover plate |09 is connected to the upper end portion of the side wall |06 by the bolts ||0 in a manner to prevent the leakage of gases therebetween.

The cover plate |09 is provided with a flanged opening having a seating surface ||2. A door 3 is hinged for movement to close the opening and is provided with a transverse latch bar 4 having a slotted end portion |5 for receiving the stud ||6 so that the door ||3 may be locked in its closed position by the wing nut l |1.

The lower portion of the side wall |06 is provided with an encased internal layer of suitable heat insulating material H8. The upper annular surface ||9 of the casing of the insulating material inside the side wall |06 is sloped downwardly `and inwardly relative to the side wall.

An ash collecting hopper is positioned in the lower portion of the housing |05 so that its downwardly inclined surface extends from the casing of the insulating material I8 to a centrally located opening |2| An ash blow-oir pipe |22 provides a passageway from the opening |2| to a valve |23 outside the housing |05, The point at which the ash blow-01T pipe |22 passes through the lower end portion of the side wall |06 is provided with a sealing device |24 to prerial H8 in spaced relation to the ash collecting f hopper |20. The lower portion of the grate |25 is provided with a centrally located opening.

As illustrated in Figs. 8 and l0, a series of four equally spaced support bars |26 extend radially inwardly from the casing of the insulating ma- L terial IIB below the grate |25 to receive the cylindrical shaker support |21 which is concentrically located with respect to the axis of the housing |05 and extends upwardly through the opening in the grate 25. The upper end portion of the shaker support |21 is anged cutwardly. An annular shaker ring |28, having a toothed, beveled outer edge |20, is held in position around the shaker support by the ring |30. The shaker ring |23 is thereby rotatable about the shaker support, and is provided with'a series of equally spaced, radially extending ribs |3| on the upper surface thereof.

A shaker crank |32 extends through the side wall |06 of the housing |05 in such a manner as to prevent escape of gases from the housing, and is supported near its inner end portion by the transverse supporting member |33 which is connected between adjacent support bars |23` The inner end portion of the shaker crank i3! is provided with a beveled gear |34 for engagement with the toothed outer edge |29 of the shaker ring |23.

A Calrod type electrical heating element |35 is positioned beneath the medial portion of the grate |25 and has electrical terminals passing through the encased insulating material H0 and the side wall |06 of the housing where they are sealed to prevent escape of gases from the housing |05.

A cylindrical stack |36 is positioned coaxially of the housing |05 in the upper portion thereof, and is provided with a sealed cover |31 which is positioned above the cover plate |09. The stack |36 is provided with a discharge opening |38 located between its cover |31 and the cover plate |09 of the housing for withdrawing gases from the stack. A flange |39 extends inwardly from the lower end portion of the stack |36 to provide a centrally located circular opening in the bottom of the stack.

A hollow truncated conical member |40, filled with a suitable heat insulating material |4|, is connected to and extends downwardly and outwardly from the ila-nge |39 to terminate in spaced relation to the inclined annular surface ||9 thereby forming a hopper chamber |02 bounded by the side wall |06, the cover plate |09, the stack |36, the conical member |00, and the annualr surface H9. The opening provides an inlet to the chamber |42 and the space between the conical member |40 and the annular surface H9 provides an annular discharge opening above the outer portion of the grate |25.

The space below the conical member |30 and above the grate |25 serves as a combustion chamber, receiving its fuel Supply from the hopper chamber |42 through its discharge opening.

An encased Venturi tube |43, having heat insulating material Hifi, is suspended from the flanged surface |39 by the four equally spaced fingers |45 to extend downwardly through the cylindrical shaker support |22l to the space below the grate |25.

The stack cover |31 is provided with a central opening for receiving the air inlet pipe |03 which passes through the opening in sealing engagement therewith and extends vertically downwardly through the stack |36 to terminate in a flow restricting nozzle |41 slightly above and concentric with the inlet of the Venturi tube |43. The valve |08 located in the air inlet pipe |46 acts to regulate the 'flow of air through the pipe |46. The portion of the air inlet pipe |46 within the housing |05 is provided with a series of four equally spaced ns |49 extending longitudinally thereof.

A movable cylindrical tube |50, positioned .between the inlet of the Venturi tube |43 and the cover |31, is of Such a length as to permit'vertical movement between the venturi and cover. The tube |50 is guided in its ver-tical movements by the 'ns l'contacting its inner surface, and the spaced ngers |115 contacting the lower end portion of its outer surface. An operating rod |5| is fastened to the upper end portion of the tube |50 and extends vertically therefrom through the stack cover |31 in such a manner as to permit vertical movement of the rod and prevent escape of gases from the housing |05. The upper end portion of the operating rod |5| is pivotally connected to the operating handle |52 by the pin |53 passing through the slot |54 in the latter. One end portion of the operating handle |52 is pivotally connected to the vertical post |55 which is mounted on the stack cover |31.

It will be seen that when the operating lever |52 is raised to its uppermost position, the operating rod |5| will `lift the tube |50 so that its upper end portion will contact the stack cover' |31. When the tube |50 is thus contacting the inner surface of the cover |31, the lower end portion of the tube |50 will lie in spaced relation to the inlet of the venturi |43. When the operating lever is moved to its lowerrnost position, the lower end portion of the tube 50 will contact the Venturi tube |43 and the upper end portion of the tube will lie iispaced relation to the stack cover |37. Intermediate positions of the operating handle |52, between its uppermost and lowerrnost positions, will provide for locations of the tube |50 to vary the space between the lower end portion of the tube and the inlet of the venturi and the upper end portion of the tube and the stack cover |31. The tube- |50, therefore, acts as a selector valve for controllingV the ilow of gas into the venturi through the spaces at either the bottom or the top end portion of the tube.

As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, a double layer cooling coil |55 is positioned within the stack |3o` outwardly of the tube |50. The upper end portions of the inner and outer layers `of the coil are extended through the stack cover |31 to provide the inlet and outlet for the water or other cooling medium which is to flow through the coil. The lower end portions of the inner and outer layers are connected to form a continuous ow path.

A pyrometer |51 is mounted on the housing so that the temperature responsive portion |58 thereof is located beneath the gra-te |25 and extends outwardiy through the encased insulating material 8 and the side wall |06 in such a manner as to prevent the escape of gases from the housing |05. The indicator dial |59 of the pyrometer is conveniently located outside the housing |65.

The operation of the modied unit illustrated in Fig. 8 is the same as that of themodication illustrated in Fig. 1 herebefore disclosed, with the exception of the manually operated temperature control system and the manner in which ashes are removed from the lower portion of the housing. The operation of the unit illustrated in Fig. 8 will, therefore, be discussed at this point only insofar as the temperature control and ash removal systems are concerned.

It will be recalled, that the temperature of the mixture of air and entrained gases in the l space below the gra-te 25 is to be maintained Within the range of 1000 F. to 1200 F. The portion |58 of the pyrometer |51 responds tochanges in the temperature of the surrounding gas as indicated by the dial I 59. The operating lever |52, therefore= may be manually actuated for adjusting the tube |50 to regulate the temperature of the entrained gases when necessary to properly maintain the temperature within the desired range as indicated by the pyrometer indi- .n

cating dial |52.

The mode of operation of the tube |50 in controlling the temperature of the gas and air mixture will now be described.

When the temperature indicated on the dialA |59 rises to approximately 1200 F. the operating handle |52 should be depressed to place the lower end portion of the tube |50 in contact with the inlet of the venturi |43. In this position, the tube |50 provides a now path for the gases to be entrained in the venturi through the stack |36 in contact with the cooling coil |56,` then downwardly alongr the inner side of the tube |50. The passage of the entrained gases in contact with the coil |56 cools theA gases sufliciently to reduce the temperature of the mixture of theair and entrained gases so that their temperature will drop.

When the temperature indicated by the pyrometer dial |59 drops to 1000" F. the operating handle |52 should be lifted to cause the upper end portion of the tube |50 to contact the inner surface of the stack cover |31. In this position the aforementioned flow path to the venturi |43 is closed and the entrained gases will be drawn directly from the combustion chamber through the space between the lower end portion of the tube |50 and the inlet of the venturi |43. The gases in the combustion chamber are at a higher temperature than those passing over the cooling coil |55, and the temperature of the air and entrained gases will, therefore, be increased to prevent a temperature drop to below the prescribed limi-ts.

It will be appreciated that adjustment of the operating lever |52 to a position intermediate to its uppermost and lowermost positions will adjust the tube |50 to provide for the ow of entrained gases through both the space below the lower end portion of the tube |50 and the space above the upper end portion of the tube |50. Part of the entrained gasesA under these circumstances will be cooled so that a balanced condition may be reached where further adjustments of the tube will be slight and infrequently required.

The ashes which are collected in the ash collect-ing hopper |20 may be periodically removed during operation of the unit by opening the valve |23 whereby the pressure within the unit will cause the ashes to be blown through the opening 12| and the pipe |22 to be discharged from the unit.

Fig. l2 illustrates a modified cooling coil |60 which may replace the cooling coil |56 of the unit illustrated in Fig. 8', or the cooling coil 12 of the unit illustrated in Fig. l. The outer layer of the coil |60 is providedA with a series of discs |6I. These discs IGI, therefore, provide a greatly increased surface area for heat absorption from the gases passing thereover, and act to conduct the heat to the cooling medium which is flowing through the coil |60.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact order of method steps as they have been disclosed, for variations and modifications of the same. which fall within the scope of the subjoined claims are contemplated.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. The method of producing a mixture of inert gases which comprises the steps of forming a burning bed of coke, delivering a high velocity air stream to the space above said coke bed, entraining in said air stream from six to ten volumes of the hot gaseous products of combustion from said space for each volume of air in said stream, delivering the air and entrained gases to the bottom of said coke bed, passing the air and entrained gases upwardly through said coke bed to cause combustion of the coke whereby the oxygen and the air reacts with the coke to form carbon dioxide with traces of carbon monoxide, controlling the temperature of the gaseous products of combustion entrained in said air stream U to maintain the temperature of said air and entrained gases at a level at which the carbon monoxide in the gaseous products of combustion will react with the oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide, and withdrawing the gaseous products of combustion which are not entrained in said air stream.

2. The method of producing a mixture of inert gases which comprises the steps of forming a burning bed of coke, delivering a high velocity air stream to the space above said coke bed, en-

training in said air stream a portion of the gaseous products of combustion from said space, delivering the air and entrained gases to the bottom of said coke bed, passing the air and entrained gases upwardly through said coke bed to cause the oxygen in said air to support combustion of said coke, controlling the percent of oxygen in the mixture of air and gases to control the temperature rise due to the combustion of said coke and to maintain the temperature in said coke bed at 1400 F. to 1600 F., controlling the temperature of the gaseous products of combustion entrained in said air stream to maintain the temperature of the air and entrained gases entering said coke bed at 1000 F. to 1200 F., and withdrawing the gaseous products of combustion which are not entrained in said air stream.

3. A method of producing a mixture of inert gases comprising, forming a burning bed of coke, withdrawing a portion of the gaseous products of combustion from the space above said coke bed, mixing the withdrawn gases with atmospheric air at the ratio of six to ten volumes of gases for each volume of air, controlling the temperature of the withdrawn gases to maintain the temperature of the mixture of gases and air at 1000" F. to 1200 F., delivering the mixture of gases and air to the bottom of said coke bed, passing the mixture upwardly through said coke bed to cause the oxygen in the mixture to support combustion of the coke whereby the temperature of said coke bed is maintained at 1400" F. to 1600 F., and delivering to the point of use that portion of the gaseous products of combustion which is not withdrawn.

4. A method of producing an inert gas mixture comprising, forming a burning bed of coke, delivering a high velocity air stream to the space above said coke bed, entraining in said air stream a portion of the gaseous products of combustion from said space, automatically controlling the temperature of the entrained gases in response to changes in the temperature of the mixture of air and entrained gases, regulating the volume of the gases entrained in said air stream to maintain the oxygen in the mixture of air and gases at two to three per cent, delivering the mixture to the bottom of the coke bed at a temperature of 1000 F. to 1200" passing the mixture upwardly through the coke bed to cause the oxyl gen in the mixture to support combustion of the coke whereby the temperature of said coke bed is maintained at i400o to 1600 F., and withdrawing the portion of the gaseous products of combustion not entrained in the air stream for delivery to a discharge point.

5. A method of producing a mixture of inert gases comprising, forming a burning bed of coke, cooling a portion of the gaseous products of combustion in the space above said coke bed, selectively withdrawing a portion of the gases from said space, mixing the withdrawn gases with atmospheric air at a ratio of six to ten volumes of gases to each volume of air, controlling the temperature of the mixture of gases and air by the aforesaid selective withdrawal of the gases, delivering the mixture of gases and air to the bottom of said coke bed at temperatures of from 1000 F. to 1200 F., passing the mixture upwardly through said coke bed to cause the oxygen therein to support combustion of the coke whereby the temperature of said coke bed is maintained at 1400 F., to 1600 F., and delivering to a point of use that portion of the gaseous products of combustion which is not withdrawn from said space. l

6. A method of producing an inert gas'mixture comprising, forming a burning bed o f coke in the lower` portion of a closed chamber, maintaining a pressure not to exceed twelve pounds per square inch, gage, lin said chamber, directing a high velocity air stream into the space above said coke bed, entraining in said air stream a portion of the gaseous products of combustion from said space, regulating the ratio of entrained gases to air at six to ten volumes of gases for each Volume of air, automatically controlling the temperature of the air and entrained gases, delivering the air and entrained gases to the bottom of the coke bed at a temperature of from 1000 F. to 1200 F., passing the air and entrained gases upwardly through the coke bed to cause the oxygen in the air to support combustion of the coke at a temperature of from about 1400" F. to about 1600 F. whereby carbon dioxide is formed, and delivering the portion of the carbon dioxide and other inert gaseous products that are not entrained in said air stream to a point of discharge from the closed chamber.

7. A method of producing an inert gas mixture comprising, forming a burning bed of coke, de-

' livering a high velocity air stream into the space above said coke bed, entraining in said air stream from six to ten volumes of the gaseous products of combustion from said space for each volume of air in said air stream to thereby maintain the oxygen content of the mixture of air and en trained gases at from two to three per cent, cooling a portion of the gaseous products of combustion located in the space above said coke bed, regulating the temperature of the mixture 0f air and entrained gases by manually controlling the amounts of cooled and uncooled gases entrained from the space above said coke bed, delivering the air and entrained gases to the bottom of the coke bed at a temperature of from 1000 F. to 1200c F.. passing the air and entrained gases upwardly through the coke bed to cause the oxygen in the air to support combustion of the coke to form carbon dioxide whereby the temperature in the fuel bed is maintained at from 1400 F. to 1690" F., and withdrawing for use the portion of the gaseous products of combustion which is not entrained in said air stream.

8. The method of producing a, mixture of inert gases which comprises the steps of forming a burning bed of coke in the lower portion of Aa closed chamber, cooling a portion of the gaseous products of combustion located in the space in the closed chamber above the coke bed. delivering a stream of constant pressure air to said space, entraining in said air stream a portion of the gases from said space to reduce the percent of oxygen in the mixture to from about two to three percent, varying the proportion of the cooled and uncooled entrained gases to maintain the temperature of the mixture above approximately i000" delivering the air and entrained gases to the bottom of the coke bed, passing the air and entrained gases upwardly through the coke bed to cause the oxygen in the air to combine with the coke in the bed so that the temperature of the gases is increased by about 200 F., for each percent of oxygen combined with the coke, and withdrawing from said space gases which are not entrained in said air stream.

HILDING- V. WILLIAMSON.

(References on following page) 1 5 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Luhmann Oct. 31, 1893 Brownlee et al. Aug. 17, 1915 Number 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A MIXTURE OF INERT GASES WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF FORMING A BURNING BED OF COKE, DELIVERING A HIGH VELOCITY AIR STREAM TO THE SPACE ABOVE SAID COKE BED, ENTRAINING IN SAID AIR STREAM FROM SIX TO TEN VOLUMES OF THE HOT GASEOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION FROM SAID SPACE FOR EACH VOLUME OF AIR IN SAID STREAM, DELIVERING THE AIR AND ENTRAINED GASES TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID COKE BED, PASSING THE AIR AND ENTRAINED GASES UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID COKE BED TO CAUSE COMBUSTION OF THE COKE WHEREBY THE OXYGEN AND THE AIR REACTS WITH THE COKE TO FORM CARBON DIOXIDE WITH TRACES OF CARBON MONOXIDE, CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE GASEOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION ENTRAINED IN SAID AIR STREAM TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID AIR AND ENTRAINED GASES AT A LEVEL AT WHICH THE CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE GASEOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION WILL REACT WITH THE OXYGEN IN THE AIR TO FORM CARBON DIOXIDE, AND WITHDRAWING THE GASEOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION WHICH ARE NOT ENTRAINED IN SAID AIR STREAM. 